Head back home to Hampden

Queen’s Park boss Gus Macpherson collected the SPFL League Two Manager of the Month award after his club achieved a clean sweep on wins in October.

Gus Macpherson said: “It is a fantastic run that we are on but that is credit to the spirit that has been built up in a short period of time.

“Some of the boys knew each other from playing against each other in the juniors but you don’t really know someone until you are in the same dressing room as them and see their bad habits as well. They have gelled really quickly and have a fantastic spirit.”

The club, which have been playing their home games at Excelsior stadium, will return to Hampden on January 3 against Clyde once the national stadium is restored to a football ground following the Commonwealth Games.

Gus, who led the southsiders to wins against East Stirlingshire, Montrose and East Fife last month, continued: “We have to play everyone home and away first at Excelsior. Everyone is looking forward to returning to Hampden. We trained at Lesser Hampden last Thursday before the Arbroath game and that gave everyone a lift.

“It is the players’ moment. It will be fantastic. Hopefully we get some training sessions before. The excitement will build for the players. Maybe Queens Park teams in the past have taken it a bit for granted if they’ve been there a few seasons.

“That won’t happen this time. We’ve shown them around, that was part of our sales pitch but it wasn’t the same because of the construction work for the Commonwealth Games. It didn’t feel like a football stadium. It will be a new thing for these guys and the way I’ve seen them train and play they will relish that challenge.”

Gus continued: “You know you always have to be proactive because of the fear of the turnaround in players again.

“Normally you want to give players 10 to 12 months to gel together but because these guys will be catching the eye with what has happened at Queen’s Park, they will attract interest.

“We will help them because we have to be respectful to them. We said when they came in that we would help them to further their career if they got the opportunity.”

Queen’s Park continued their good run of form on Sunday when they defeated Elgin City 4-1.

The southsiders currently sit in second place in League two. This weekend, the Spiders face Albion Rovers at Excelsior Stadium.